Miles this week: 24
Still
to go: £1,068.00
It
appears the sponsorship wheel is now slowly starting to turn, with a couple
more kind donations this week. So in tradition with past blogs, I’d like to say
a big thank you to the following people: Jane (though you will be feeling the
pain of the London marathon too) and to Danni and Adam - also, congratulations
on the birth of little baby Ella.
The
money raised this week is a good step in the right direction, but I know you
guys reading this can give more! Even if it’s just spreading the word of my
challenging 2014, to help me reach £1,000.00 by the end of March.
Further
to last week’s blog, it’s now clear that I am not a big fan of my new running
shoes. I did carry on using them this week, but they just don’t feel right to
me. The most frustrating thing is that I can’t pin point the problem, and it’s
not because I got them dirty on my first run. It’s a shame, as I loved my Wave
Rider 15’s, but just can’t get on with the 17’s. So most of this week, well,
when I have found spare time, I have been trailing the internet looking at
reviews of running shoes for neutral runners.
Potential
candidates are:
Asics
GEL NIMBUS 15
Mizuno
Wave Sayonara
Brooks
Glycerin 11
New
Balance M980 Fresh Foam
Asics
GEL LYTE 33
Asics
Kinsei 5
So
I used the ‘exchange-before-thirty-days’ policy that came with them, and headed
back to the running shop over the weekend. The policy only entitles me to one
exchange, so I have to be 100% sure my next pair are the right ones, or else
risk having to pay out more money!!
With
that in mind, I asked the shop to treat me as a non-runner in assessing me and
making their shoe recommendation. This meant I could put them (the shoes, not
the staff) through their paces on the in-store treadmill. I was in the store a
good hour and tested the shoes at least twice before coming away with a pair of
New Balance M980 Fresh Foam as recommended by the shop assistant, which were on
my list of potential replacement trainers. I will endeavour to provide you with
an update on them next week. Their first test is an easy eleven mile run
(positive thought going on there)!
So
I am now one week behind catching up with the training schedule that the
book suggests. In an ideal world, I
would have liked to start from week one and worked my way up, instead of
missing every other week. Generally most of the runs are ok, by that I mean not
a lot of miles have been added. It’s not until I get to the long run of the
week that I notice the big change in distance. This week it’s step up another 3
miles, and I will have the same next week to catch up with my training
schedule.
However,
for now though, the prescribed schedule vs mine has just two miles difference.
Sounded easy until I realised that it has a gruelling eleven mile run…!!
|
Week
6’s Schedule
|
My
Schedule (Week 6 of the book)
|
|
Day
1 = 4 miles
|
Day
1 = 4 miles
|
|
Day
2 = 6 miles
|
Day
2 = 5 miles
|
|
Day
3 = 4 miles
|
Day
3 = 4 miles
|
|
Day
4 = 12 miles
|
Day
4 = 11 miles
|
|
Total
for the week = 26 miles
|
Total
for the week = 24 miles
|
Generally
I have been feeling quite tired this week, not whilst running but generally the
next day, so I decided to take myself off to a spa. I say a spa but in fact in
was Bath’s Thermae spa (a big thank you to Gill and David for putting us up for
a night). So after a two hour session later and I had tried the open-air
rooftop pool, the Minerva bath and four different steam rooms which each of
which is infused with an aromatic essence such as eucalyptus mint, lavender and
frankincense there was a fourth room but I have no idea on the flavour. It did
provide a much needed boost.
I
also went to a local running club on Wednesday night that a work colleague had
been asking me to go down to for the past year, my attitude has always been
‘why do I need to pay to run!?’
However
I quite enjoyed myself. There was no pressure to run at an uncomfortable pace,
as there were three different pace groups. I had a few reasons for going this
time, probably all selfish on my part, but if you don’t try you never know! I
wanted to go because of the soft surface to run on (turns out tracks aren’t that
soft), and also to try running without music, as I know I rely too heavily on
this to get me through my long runs. I hoped to pick up some tips/better
running form, and I quite miss the camaraderie of my football team.
The
club I mentioned was Bracknell Forest Runners. They have around 294 members,
were founded in 1989 and are UK Athletics affiliated.
From
reading their website and talking to people, the club run on an
informal/friendly basis, and they seek to cater for a broad range of running
abilities and ages. They also have qualified coaches who actively participate in
training sessions and are available to give advice on training needs.
Now,
I have only been to one and it was their track day, but the club does offer
different sessions and they meet four times a week.
Monday
is the weekly social run and is a great opportunity to meet other runners,
whilst recovering from the training/races at the weekend. And like the track
day, they work in different pace groups. I have already discussed the track
day, but these are held every Wednesday. They are classed as the main club
night at the Bracknell Leisure Centre running track, charging £1 per track
session. Depending on the time of year, Fridays will be either a trial run down
at the Lookout (generally summer months) or a run around the local foot paths
and cycle tracks (winter months). Again, they provide different pace groups to
cater for everyone. Like Friday, Sundays entail a trial run at the Lookout.
They
also hold other sessions, which are arranged by individuals within the club.
Additionally, they participate in the Thames Valley Cross-Country League, which
is held over the winter months.
Other
main events that attract members are the Grizzly, the Yateley 10k Series, the
Beachy Head Marathon, local Relay Races and the London Marathon. They even host
their own race called the "Forest Five", a 5 mile race held at the
Lookout, which I actually ran last year through work.
A
central part of most clubs/teams are the social activities, and from reading
their website, this club is no different. But for now my thoughts are solely on
running, but who knows, I may even join the club in coming weeks.
I
spoke to Robin at Sense this week. He was calling to see how my preparations in
terms of training schedule and sponsorship plans are coming along. He was
pleased with the current level of sponsorship and the plans I have in place to
help raise the rest of the funds. He was unaware of the rest of my challenges I
have planned for this year, nor the blog, but has now made a note of them.
There is also going to be a training day at Battersea in London on February
22nd, so I need to see if I can make it as it would be good to meet other
people that are running for Sense.
I’m really hoping to push through the £500 mark
this week, so with that in mind any amount you can spare will be greatly
welcomed, even if it’s £1! Please spread the word for me, too.
Leigh
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